, 1887-05-31
Grand and Imposing Memorial Day
Rites and Ceremonies.
A Stately Pageant - Impressive
Scenes---EIoquent Addresses.
A Great Day in the History of the
Reynolds Post.

tory, would be but to state a plain, self
evident and undisputed fact. Properly
speaking, the exercises held under the
auspices of the John f. Reynolds post
began last Saturday evening, at which
time a special meeting, which was at,
tended by Col. Of1ey and other officers
from Fort Russell, was held in honor of
Gen. Bowman, the Grand Army orator of
Colorado.
On Sunday evening the John f. Rev
nolds post and also the G. G. Meade
camp, s. ", attended divine services at
the Methodist church, at which time one
of the most able and eloquent sermons
ever delivered in Cheyenne was preached
by Rev. D. L. RAIDER, from the text,
What mean ye by this service2" There
was on that occasion some of the finest
vocal music heard in Cheyenne for years,
by the choir of that church, which, as the
Grand Army men entered the church,
sang Brave Battery Boys" In conclu
sion, Hold the Fort was sung by the
choir and congregation.
Yesterday was favorable so far as
weather was concerned. Shortly after 9
o'clock yesterday morning the John +.
Reynolds post assembled and proceeded to
Fort Russell in transportation furnished
by the military authorities, for the pur
pose of decorating the graves of ex Union
soldiers in the military cemetery near the
post. This side of Fort Russell the Rey-
nolds post was met by Col. Ofley at the
head of the 18th infantry, accompanied
by their band, and by this fine and bril-
liant pageant the post was escorted to the
military cemetery, where the grave were
decorated with the usual ceremonies, in
Guiding the firing Of volleys aud the sound
ing of the bugle call, Lights Out" (It
should be stated that Il e nring squad for
yesterdays exercises vas furnished BY
Col. 0fley, and was composed entirely of
men who served in the late war
At 2 o'clock Yesterday afternoon the
procession, which was probably a half
mile in length, formed on Seventeenth
and Eddy streets and marched to the
cemeteries in the following order:
j. K. jeffrey, marshal of the day, with
assistants; Mai John Talbot, Herman
Haas, NJ. G. Bsrkwell and F. w. La
frentz, and with Col. r. A. Sitter, chief
of staff, j. G. Baird, A D. Kelley, s.
Bon, Jr.. and William Walters, aids.
Cheyenne City Band.
l. L Fredendal, ckief of fire depart
ment, and assistant P. 8. Cook.
Pioneer Hook and Ladder company,
commanded by L. Warlautnount, fore
man.
Durant Engine and Hose company, un-
der George A. Coffman, foreman
Alert Hose company, led by f. A.
Roedel, foreman.
j. 7. Clark Hose company, led by
Joseph Granger, Sr., foreman.
Phil Sheridan Hose company, headed
by Andrew A. Rourk, foreman.
Knights of Pythias, led by w. R.
Schnitger.
Select Knights, A. o. U. W., headed
by ]. 2. Julian.
Colored Masons, led by d. D. Moore.
Federal, territorial, county and city
officials and officers of Seventeenth Regl-
ment. also Gen. Bowman, in carriages.
G. A. r. Drum Corps.
George G. Meade Camp, S. ", led by
Capt. Young.
John f. Reynolds Post, No. 80, De
partment of Colorado. G. A. R., headed
by Thomas NJ. Fisher, commander of the
post.
The line of march was up Seventeenth
to Seymour and thence north to the
Catholic cemetery.
In the n~eighborhood of two thousand
people, in carriages and on foot, were at
the cemeteries when the procession reached
its destination. At the Catholic cemetery
the ceremony of decorating the graves
there was observed in accordance with the
G. A. R rules and regulations, including
the firing of v~olleys, etc. Returning to
the city cemetery, the graves there were
decorated, volleys fred and lights out
sounded, after which the Reynolds Post
and other organizations on the ground
we're drawn up around the G. A. r
monument (which had been appropriately
trimmed and ~enlivened with evergreen
ropes, etc. and the ceremony of dedicat
ing the monument was proceeded with.
prayer first being offered by Rev. A. W.
Williams. Gen. j. w. Fisher, president
of the day, had general charge of the
proceedings. Gen. Bowman. orator of
the day, assisted in the ceremony, which
was exceedingly beautiful and impressive.
Adiutant Leihey, George G. Neil, 3. w.,
and also N. Winkler, Capt. Smith, j. II.
Goddard and Chaplain Pearce, all of
whom are officers of the post. also assist
ed, as did also a guard of honor from the
firing party. At the conclusion of the
ceremonies, which were interspersed with
music by the city band, Gen. J. w.
Fisher delivered an eloquent and exceed
ingly appropriate dedicatory address